Lapdesk with Retractable Touchpad

ABSTRACT

A lapdesk for use with a laptop computer includes a housing having a top configured to support the laptop computer. The housing is configured to block heat emitted from the laptop computer from passing through the housing. The lapdesk further includes a tray having a touchpad disposed thereon. The tray is configured to slide into the housing and slide out from the housing. The lapdesk further includes a circuit coupled to the touchpad where the circuit is configured to transmit control signals from the touchpad to the laptop computer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a lapdesk for a laptop computer.More specifically, the present invention is directed to a lapdesk with aretractable tray with multi-touch functionality.

Laptop computers now account for almost half of all computer sales.Laptop computers, as of recent, also have the same computing power andfunctionality of desktop computers, and provide computing power whereverdesired. Further, with the increasingly popularity of laptop computershaving touchpads, and smart phones and MP3 players with touchpads, usershave been exposed to a new level of touch experience. With thisincreased exposure to touchpads, users expect more of the touchexperience and touch functions associated with touchpads.

Therefore, manufactures of peripheral devices, which are configured foruse with laptop computers, have a large impetus to create new peripheraldevices that provide the touch experience. Specifically, a current needhas arisen for a lapdesk with a touchpad to provide the added touchfunctions that users demand.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a lapdesk for a laptop computer.More specifically, the present invention is directed to a lapdesk with aretractable tray with multi-touch functionality.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a lapdesk for usewith a laptop computer includes a housing having a top configured tosupport the laptop computer. The housing is configured to block heatemitted from the laptop computer from passing through the housing. Thelapdesk further includes a tray having a touchpad disposed thereon. Thetray is configured to slide into the housing and slide out from thehousing. The lapdesk further includes a circuit coupled to the touchpadwhere the circuit is configured to transmit control signals from thetouchpad to the laptop computer.

According to a specific embodiment, the touchpad includes a set ofcontrol buttons. The set of control buttons may include a power switchconfigured to change a power state of the laptop computer. The powerstate is a sleep state, an on state, or a power off state.Alternatively, the set of control buttons includes a set of volumecontrol buttons. Alternatively, the set of control buttons includes aset of media control buttons. Alternatively, the set of control buttonsincludes a send button configured to initiate the sending of anelectronic communication by the laptop computer. The send button isconfigured to operate with the circuit to send image information in theelectronic communication for an image drawn on the touchpad. Theelectronic communication may be an e-mail.

According to another specific embodiment, the tray includes a set ofbacklights disposed under the set of control buttons, wherein the set ofbacklights is configured to backlight the set of control buttons. Theset of backlights may be configured to be turned on and off by anapplication running on the laptop computer.

According to another specific embodiment, the touchpad is a resistivetouchpad. The tray and touchpad may be detachable from the housing.

According to another specific embodiment, the circuit includes atransmitter, which is configured to wirelessly communicate with thelaptop computer. Alternatively, the circuit is coupled to a wiredconnector, which is configured to couple to the laptop computer fortransferring control signal between the circuit and the laptop computer.

According to one embodiment, a lapdesk for use with a laptop computerincludes a housing having a top configured to support the laptopcomputer. The housing is configured to block heat emitted from thelaptop computer from passing through the housing. The lapdesk furtherincludes a tray having a touchpad disposed thereon. The tray isconfigured to slide into the housing and slide out from the housing. Thelapdesk further includes a circuit coupled to the touchpad where thecircuit is configured to transmit control signals from the touchpad tothe laptop computer. The lapdesk further includes a paper detectorcoupled to the tray and to the circuit. The paper detector is configuredto detect a piece of paper placed on the tray and operates with thecircuit to send a control signal to the laptop computer to perform adrawing operation. The drawing operation may include starting a drawprogram on the laptop computer, or launching a blank pallet on a drawprogram. The paper detector may be configured to detect the removal of apiece of paper from the touchpad. If the piece of paper is removed fromthe touchpad, the paper detector is configured to operate with thecircuit to send a control signal to the laptop computer to save adrawing drawn on the paper where the drawings is detected by thetouchpad.

A better understanding of the nature and advantages of the presentinvention may be gained with reference to the following detaileddescription and the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a simplified schematic of a lapdesk according to oneembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 1B is a simplified circuit diagram of a circuit that may beincluded in the lapdesk;

FIG. 2 is a simplified schematic of the lapdesk according to oneembodiment of the present;

FIG. 3 is a simplified schematic of the lapdesk according to anotherembodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a simplified schematic of the lapdesk with an instantmessenger button on a touchpad of the lapdesk.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SELECT EMBODIMENTS THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a lapdesk for a laptop computer. Morespecifically, the present invention provides a lapdesk with a touchpadfor a laptop computer where the touchpad is configured to provide avariety of functions for the laptop computer.

FIG. 1A is a simplified schematic of a lapdesk 100 according to oneembodiment of the present invention. Lapdesk 100 includes a housing 110and a tray 120. Housing 110 has a top 112, which may be relatively flat.Top 112 is configured to support a laptop computer. Housing 110 alsoincludes a bottom (not shown), which is configured to be placed on auser's lap or the like for use. The bottom of housing 110 may be formedof a heating insulating material, such as plastic. The lapdesk isconfigured to operate as a heat barrier between a laptop computer placedon top 112 and a user's lap in contact with the bottom of the lapdesk.

According to one embodiment, housing 110 includes a set of electricalconnectors 155 (see FIG. 1B, which is described below in detail), whichare configured to connect the lapdesk to a laptop computer. The set ofelectrical connectors may include a wire connector that is configuredfor Universal Serial Bus (USB) communications, Firewire communications,or the like. Housing 110 may also include a wireless transceiver 160(see FIG. 1B), which is configured to wirelessly communicate with alaptop computer. The wireless transceiver may be configured tocommunicate via a variety of wireless communication protocols such as aBluetooth format, a Home RF format, or the like.

According to one embodiment, tray 120 is configured to be pulled outfrom, and inserted into, a slot 125 in housing 110. The housing protectsthe tray when the tray is not in use and is in the fully insertedposition. According to a specific embodiment, tray 120 may be configuredto be removed from housing 110, and may be fully detachable from thehousing. The housing and/or the tray may include various latchingmechanism for holding the tray in the housing with the tray in a fullyretracted position. The housing and/or tray may also include variouscoupling mechanism to hold the tray at a relatively fixed position ifthe tray is partially pulled out from the housing as shown in FIG. 1A.The tray may be configured for placing a mouse or the like thereon foruse with a laptop computer, which is used with the lapdesk.

According to one embodiment, tray 120 includes a touchpad 127. Touchpad127 is configured for use as a human interface device (HID) with alaptop computer, which is in communication with the lapdesk. Accordingto an alternative embodiment, touchpad 127 is integrated on the top ofthe lapdesk.

FIG. 1B is a simplified circuit diagram of a circuit 150 that may beincluded in lapdesk 100. Circuit 150 may be in housing 110 or may be intray 120. Circuit 150 may include the set of electrical connectors 155,wireless transceiver 160, a processor 165, a power source 170 (battery,rechargeable battery, etc.), a power switch 175, and touchpad 127. Theset of electrical connectors 155, wireless transceiver 160, processor165 (e.g., a microprocessor), power source 170, and touchpad 127 mayeach be communicatively coupled to the processor. In some embodiments,if the lapdesk includes a wireless transceiver, the lapdesk might notinclude the set of electrical connectors. Similarly, if the lapdeskincludes the set of electrical connectors, the lapdesk might not includethe wireless transceiver. According to an alternative embodiment,circuit 150 does not include the power source, and is configured to drawpower from a laptop computer via the set of electrical connectors.Processor 165 is configured to control communication between thetouchpad and a laptop computer in communication with the touchpad.Specifically, processor 165 may collect signals from the touchpad,formulate the collected signals into control signals, and control thetransmission of the control signals to the laptop computer.

According to one embodiment, power switch 175 is configured to power onthe lapdesk by supplying power from power source 170 to circuit 150.Power switch 175 is a user operable switch and may be disposed on thebottom of the lapdesk. Alternatively, power switch is configured todetect that the tray is pulled from the housing and power on circuit150. The power switch may also be configured to detect that the tray ispushed fully back into the housing to power off circuit 150. Accordingto an embodiment in which the lapdesk does not include power source 170,circuit 150 might not include power switch 175. The circuit may bepowered on by connecting the set of electrical connectors to the laptopcomputer, and may be powered off by disconnecting the set of electricalconnectors from the laptop computer. According to another embodiment,the power source may include rechargeable batteries that may be chargedby connecting the set of electrical connectors to the laptop computer.

FIG. 2 is a simplified schematic of lapdesk 100 according to oneembodiment of the present invention and shows tray 120 in furtherdetail. According to one embodiment, tray 120 includes a set of controlbuttons 200. The set of control buttons may be integrally formed withtouchpad 127 and may be independent of the touchpad. For example, theset of control buttons may be “touch” buttons or may be “click” buttons.A touch button may be touched with little or no pressure to activate thetouch button. A click button may be pressed on with a threshold force toactivate (or click) the click button.

The set of control buttons may include a power button 200 a. Powerbutton 200 a may be configured to power down or power up a laptopcomputer, or put a laptop computer in a “sleep” mode. A sleep mode, asis well known in the art, is a low power consumptions mode, which has arelatively fast “wake” time.

The set of control buttons 200 may also include various volume controlbuttons 200 b, 200 c, and 200 d, which are configured to control thevolume output from a set of speakers of a laptop computer. Volumecontrol button 200 b may be configured to raise the volume of thespeakers. Volume control button 200 c may be configured to lower thevolume of the speakers. Volume control button 200 d may be configured tomute the volume of the speakers. The set of control buttons may beconfigured to be backlighted by a set of backlights (e.g., LEDs) 205(see FIG. 1B) disposed under the touchpad. Lapdesk 100 may include anindependent switch 210 that is configured to turn on and off the set ofbacklights. The switch may be a user controlled switch or may be a lightactivated switch, which may be configured to turn the backlights on andoff dependent on the ambient light where the lapdesk is used.Alternatively, the set of backlights may be configured to be turned onand off via a program operating on the laptop computer.

According to one embodiment, touchpad 127 includes a set of mediacontrol buttons 215. The media control buttons may be touch buttons orclick buttons. The set of media control buttons may be backlighted. Theset of media control buttons might be printed on the touchpad such thatthe set of media control buttons are substantially not visible, unlessthe backlight for the set of media control buttons is turned on. Forexample, the set of media control buttons may be printed on a bottomsurface, or intermediate layer of the touchpad so that the media controlbuttons are generally not visible unless backlighted. Such buttons aresometimes referred to as dead front buttons. A backlight for the set ofmedia control buttons may be turned on via a switch in circuit 150, ormay be turned on based on a particular application that is operating onthe laptop computer. For example, if a media program (e.g., musicplayer, video player, etc.) is operating on the computer, the computermay be configured to send a control signal to the processor to turn onthe backlight for the set of media control buttons. According to aspecific embodiment, the set of media control buttons is not activatedunless the backlight for these buttons is turned on. The set of mediacontrol buttons may include a stop button 215 a, a reverse button 215 b,a play/pause button 215 c, and a fast forward button 215 d. The set ofmedia control buttons may be configured to control a media program(e.g., Windows MediaPlayer™, a picture viewer, etc.) and/or mediahardware (e.g., a CD player) operating on the laptop computer.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the touchpad is aresistive touchpad. Touchpad 120 may be configured as a human inputdevice having the capabilities of conventional computer mouse,trackball, etc. For example, the touchpad may be configured to controlmovement of a pointer or other graphical object displayed on the laptopcomputer's monitor as a user drags a finger, a stylus, a pen, etc.across the touchpad. The touchpad may be configured to be tapped toselect a graphical object, such as selecting a graphical object fordragging or selecting a screen button for activation. The touchpad maybe configured to be double tapped to perform other functions. Dependingon the particular application operating on the laptop computer, thetouchpad may be configured to control scrolling, panning, zooming, androtating images on the laptop computer's display. For example, if a menuis displayed on the laptop computer's display, moving a finger left orright on the touchpad may cause the touchpad to control left or rightnavigation through the menu. Up or down movement of a finger on thetouchpad may cause the touchpad to control up or down navigation throughthe menu. Those of skill in the art will recognize other functions thatthe touchpad may perform in combination with other programs operating ona laptop computer.

As shown in FIG. 3, touchpad 127 may be configured for use as a drawingpad according to one embodiment of the invention. The touchpad may beconfigured to detect an object 300 (e.g., a stylus) moving 305 acrossthe surface of the touchpad. The touchpad may be configured to operatein combination with circuit 150 to send control signals to a drawingprogram operating on the laptop computer. According to one embodiment,the laptop computer's display is configured to display the movement ofan object across the touchpad as the user “draws” on the touchpad. Thetouchpad may be configured to detect different pressure applied to thetouchpad. In a drawing mode, the touchpad and circuit 150 may beconfigured to change the line width of a line being drawn on the laptopcomputer's display based on the pressure detected by the touchpad. Forexample, high pressure may be detected for drawing thick lines, whereaslower pressure might be detected for drawing narrow lines.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the touchpad 127 includesa paper detector 175 (see FIG. 1B). The paper detector is configured todetect a piece of paper being placed on the touchpad. The paper detectormight include a set of electromagnetic radiation emitters 175 a and aset of electromagnetic radiation detectors 175 b. The set ofelectromagnetic radiation emitters and the set of electromagneticradiation detectors may be positioned under the touchpad or adjacent tothe touchpad. Each electromagnetic radiation emitter is configured toemit electromagnetic radiation that may be detected by one or more ofthe electromagnetic radiation detectors as the electromagnetic radiationis reflected by a piece of paper placed on the touchpad. Theelectromagnetic radiation emitter and electromagnetic radiationdetectors may be substantially spread out across the touchpad so thepaper detector does not generate a false positive signal that a piece ofpaper has been placed on the touchpad. For example, the processor may beconfigured to generate a signal that a piece of paper is placed on thetouchpad if four or more, for example, of the electromagnetic radiationdetectors detect reflected electromagnetic radiation reflected from apiece of paper. If a piece of paper is detected by the set ofelectromagnetic radiation detectors, the processor may signal to thelaptop computer to start a draw program, or place a blank pallet on thegraphical interface of the draw program. A user may then draw on thepiece of paper with a pen, a pencil, or the like, and the touchpad isconfigured to detect the drawing and operate with circuit 150 to sendcontrol signals to the laptop computer to display the same drawing onthe pallet of the draw program. When the paper is removed from thetouchpad, circuit 150 may send a control signal to the laptop computerto save the drawing.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the touchpadincludes a paper clip mechanism (not shown) that is configured to holdthe paper on the touchpad. According to this embodiment, the paperdetector is configured to detect a piece of paper in the paper clipmechanism. The paper detector may be configured to detect mechanicalmovement of the paper clip mechanism or may be configured to measure anoptical feature of the paper clip mechanism. The mechanical or opticalfeatures are modified unambiguously when paper is inserted into thepaper clip mechanism. When paper is detected the paper clip mechanism,the draw program may be started, or initialized with a blank pallet.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the trayincludes a pattern of dots (e.g., an Anoto™ pattern) on the top surfaceof the tray. According to one embodiment, an electronic pen configuredto detect the pattern of dots may be used to “write” on the tray andstore the writing or drawing performed on the tray based on the patternof dots. According to one embodiment, the pattern of dots may be on anoverlay (e.g., a sheet of plastic or the like) that is configured to bepositioned on the tray. According to one embodiment, the pattern of dotsis not visible to the human eye, but is detectable by a pen configuredto detect the dots. Such an overlay might be used with ascratch-n-scroll feature of the tray to allow for storage of the writingor drawings on the laptop computer.

FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of the lapdesk. The lapdesk isconfigured to operate with a messaging application operating on thelaptop computer. The touchpad may be configured to transfer writing(e.g., E-mc2) that has been written touchpad to the laptop computer. Thetouchpad may include a “send” button 400, which when pressed isconfigured to direct the laptop computer to send an electronic message,which includes the writing transferred to the laptop computer. Theelectronic message may be an e-mail message, an SMS message, or thelike.

While the invention has been described with respect to specificembodiments, one skilled in the art will recognize that numerousmodifications are possible. For example, the touchpad has been describedabove as a resistive touchpad, however, the touchpad may be a capacitivetouchpad, or may include capacitive and resistive detection circuits.Further, while the computer described herein is referred to as a laptopcomputer, the computer may be a netbook computer, a palmtop computer, orthe like. Thus, although the invention has been described with respectto specific embodiments, it will be appreciated that the invention isintended to cover all modifications and equivalents within the scope ofthe following claims.

1. A lapdesk for use with a laptop computer comprising: a housing havinga top configured to support a laptop computer and the housing beingconfigured to block heat emitted from the laptop computer from passingthrough the housing; a tray having a touchpad disposed thereon, whereinthe tray is configured to slide into the housing and slide out from thehousing; and a circuit coupled to the touchpad, wherein the circuit isconfigured to transmit control signals from the touchpad to the laptopcomputer.
 2. The lapdesk of claim 1, wherein the touchpad includes a setof control buttons.
 3. The lapdesk of claim 2, wherein the set ofcontrol buttons includes a power switch configured to change a powerstate of the laptop computer.
 4. The lapdesk of claim 3, wherein thepower state is a sleep state, an on state, or a power off state.
 5. Thelapdesk of claim 2, wherein the set of control buttons includes a set ofvolume control buttons.
 6. The lapdesk of claim 2, wherein the set ofcontrol buttons includes a set of media control buttons.
 7. The lapdeskof claim 2, wherein the set of control buttons includes a send buttonconfigured to initiate the sending of an electronic communication by thelaptop computer.
 8. The lapdesk of claim 7, wherein the send button isconfigured to operate with the circuit to send image information for animage drawn on the touchpad in the electronic communication.
 9. Thelapdesk of claim 8, wherein the electronic communication is an email.10. The lapdesk of claim 2, wherein the tray includes a set ofbacklights disposed under the set of control buttons and the set ofbacklights is configured to backlight the set of control buttons. 11.The lapdesk of claim 2, wherein the set of backlights is configured tobe turned on and off by an application running on the laptop computer.12. The lapdesk of claim 1, wherein the touchpad is resistive touchpad.13. The lapdesk of claim 1, wherein the tray is detachable from thehousing.
 14. The lapdesk of claim 1, wherein the circuit includes atransmitter, which is configured to wirelessly communicate with thelaptop computer.
 15. The lapdesk of claim 1, wherein in the circuit iscoupled to a wired connector, which is configured to couple to thelaptop computer for transferring control signal between the circuit andthe laptop computer.
 16. A lapdesk for a laptop computer comprising: ahousing having a top configured to support a laptop computer and thehousing being configured to block heat emitted from the laptop computerfrom passing through the housing; a tray having a touchpad disposedthereon, wherein the tray is configured to slide into the housing andslide out from the housing; a circuit coupled to the touchpad, whereinthe circuit is configured to transmit control signals from the touchpadto the laptop computer; and a paper detector coupled to the tray and tothe circuit, wherein the paper detector is configured to detect a pieceof paper placed on the tray and operate with the circuit to send acontrol signal to the laptop computer to perform a drawing operation.17. The lapdesk of claim 16, herein the drawing operation includesstarting a draw program on the laptop computer.
 18. The lapdesk of claim16, herein the drawing operation includes launching a blank pallet on adraw program on the laptop computer.
 19. The lapdesk of claim 16, thepaper detector is configured to detect the removal of a piece of paperfrom the touchpad and operate with the circuit to send a control signalto the laptop computer to save a drawing drawn on the paper and detectedby the touchpad.